America has a new favorite grill and bar chain.For the first time, Chili's overtook Applebee's in terms of U.S. systemwide sales in 2024, according to Technomic.Data from the restaurant tracking firm shows that from 2021 to 2024, Chili's grew U.S. sales from about $3.6 billion to $4.6 billion, while Applebee's $4.1 billion U.S. sales were about flat over that same time period.In their most recently reported fiscal quarters, Chili's saw its same-store sales spike 31%, while Applebee's domestic same-store sal ...

Core Insights - Wyndham Rewards is enhancing its offerings by providing members with new dining perks and exclusive access to popular events and festivals [1][2][4] - The program aims to improve member experiences by allowing them to convert points into unique experiences through auctions and fixed-point rewards [3][6] - Wyndham Rewards has been recognized as the 1 hotel rewards program by U.S. News & World Report and USA Today, reflecting its commitment to continuous improvement [5][8] Dining and Experiences - Wyndham Rewards members will soon earn points for mobile To Go orders at over 1,500 Applebee's restaurants, with free delivery included [4][11] - The program features over 150 new experiences, including VIP tickets to sold-out events and unique activities like riding on a Zamboni during a New York Rangers game [9][10] Membership Benefits - Members earn a guaranteed 1,000 points with every qualified stay and can redeem free nights starting at just 7,500 points [10] - The program has expanded its offerings, including the introduction of a co-brand debit card and enhanced points redemption options [6]

Core Insights - Dine Brands (DIN) reported revenue of $214.78 million for Q1 2025, a year-over-year increase of 4.1%, but fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate by -0.24% [1] - The EPS for the quarter was $1.03, down from $1.33 a year ago, representing a surprise of -12.71% against the consensus estimate of $1.18 [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Dine Brands' shares returned +6.4% over the past month, underperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +10.6% [3] - IHOP's domestic same-restaurant sales decreased by -2.7%, worse than the average estimate of -1.8% [4] - The total number of IHOP restaurants was 1,814, slightly below the estimated 1,822 [4] - Applebee's restaurants totaled 1,594, compared to the average estimate of 1,606 [4] - Applebee's domestic same-restaurant sales decreased by -2.2%, better than the estimated -3% [4] Revenue Breakdown - Franchise revenues were reported at $166.21 million, below the average estimate of $168.51 million, reflecting a year-over-year decline of -5.5% [4] - Rental revenues were $26.66 million, compared to the average estimate of $28.88 million, marking a -9.8% year-over-year change [4] - Financing revenues were $0.34 million, lower than the estimated $0.45 million, representing a significant -36.8% decline year-over-year [4] - Company restaurant sales reached $21.57 million, exceeding the average estimate of $17.47 million, with a remarkable year-over-year increase of +7773.4% [4] - Advertising revenue from franchise revenues was $70.49 million, slightly below the average estimate of $71.55 million, indicating a -6.3% year-over-year change [4] - Royalties, franchise fees, and other revenues totaled $95.72 million, compared to the average estimate of $97.51 million, reflecting a -4.9% year-over-year decline [4]

Dine Brands Global (DIN) Q1 2025 Earnings Call May 07, 2025 09:00 AM ET Company Participants Matt Lee - SVP - IR & FinanceJohn Peyton - CEOVance Chang - CFOLarson Rice - Equity Research AssociateLawrence Kim - President, IHOPDennis Geiger - Executive Director - Equity ResearchBrian Vaccaro - Managing Director - Equity Research Conference Call Participants Eric Gonzalez - Senior Research Analyst - US RestaurantsBrian Mullan - Director & Senior Research AnalystTodd Brooks - Equity Research Analyst Operator an ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, EBITDA decreased to $54.7 million from $60.8 million in the same quarter last year [13] - Revenues increased by 4% to $214.8 million compared to $206.2 million in Q1 2024 [28] - Adjusted free cash flow was $14.6 million, down from $29.7 million in the prior year [30] - Adjusted diluted EPS for Q1 2025 was $1.03, compared to $1.33 in Q1 2024 [29] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Applebee's reported a 2.2% decline in comp sales, while IHOP posted a negative 2.7% in comp sales [13][32] - Off-premise comp sales at Applebee's increased by 3.7%, driven by promotions [13] - IHOP's house faves value menu contributed to traffic growth, outperforming the family dining segment [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The value mix at Applebee's increased from 28% to 34%, while IHOP's value mix rose from 16% to 19% [9] - Approximately 13% of IHOP's and 10% of Applebee's annual market basket is sourced internationally [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on three key priorities: elevating guest experience, enhancing menu and value programs, and better communicating brand value [7] - The dual brand concept is being expanded, with plans for 13 additional dual brands and 10 conversions this year [21][23] - The company is committed to remodeling Applebee's restaurants and has introduced an early adopter incentive for franchisees [31][75] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that consumer confidence has declined, affecting spending, particularly among lower-income guests [8] - Despite challenges, there was positive momentum in sales and traffic in March and April [9][94] - The company maintains its full-year financial guidance, indicating confidence in its strategic initiatives [35] Other Important Information - The company is actively monitoring global trade tensions and their potential impact on costs, with a small portion of market basket sourced internationally [10] - The company has implemented cost-saving initiatives resulting in over $14 million of annualized savings across both systems [34] Q&A Session Summary Question: Context on Applebee's performance in April - Management noted modest improvement in January, pressure in February, but a significant improvement in March that continued into April, driven by promotions and off-premise sales [41][42] Question: IHOP's same-store sales guidance - Management confirmed confidence in IHOP's guidance due to traffic momentum and successful marketing initiatives [50][56] Question: Value proposition at both brands - Management emphasized the importance of evolving the value proposition based on consumer feedback and market conditions [59][63] Question: Applebee's remodel package details - The remodel package is expected to cost between $200,000 to $300,000 per franchisee, with incentives provided for early adopters [72][75] Question: Average check growth expectations - Applebee's check increased slightly, while IHOP's check dropped due to a shift in product mix [77] Question: Operational simplification examples - Management highlighted improvements in ordering speed through technology and operational flow enhancements [81][84] Question: Future direction for Club Applebee's - The company plans to enhance Club Applebee's with more personalized marketing and exclusive offers for members [87][92]

Core Insights - Dine Brands (DIN) reported quarterly earnings of $1.03 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.18 per share, and down from $1.33 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of -12.71% [1] - The company posted revenues of $214.78 million for the quarter, slightly missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.24%, and up from $206.24 million year-over-year [2] - Dine Brands shares have declined approximately 33.7% year-to-date, contrasting with the S&P 500's decline of -4.7% [3] Earnings Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $1.50 on revenues of $218.43 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $5.06 on revenues of $858.74 million [7] - The estimate revisions trend for Dine Brands is currently unfavorable, resulting in a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell) for the stock, indicating expected underperformance in the near future [6] Industry Context - The Retail - Restaurants industry, to which Dine Brands belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 20% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a challenging environment for stock performance [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can impact investor sentiment and stock performance [5]

Dine Brands Global, Inc. (NYSE:DIN) Q4 2024 Results Conference Call March 5, 2025 9:00 AM ET Company Participants Matt Lee - Senior Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations John Peyton - Chief Executive Officer Vance Chang - Chief Financial Officer Lawrence Kim - President, IHOP Conference Call Participants Eric Gonzalez - KeyBanc Dennis Geiger - UBS Pratik Patel - Barclays Nick Setyan - Wedbush Brian Vaccaro - Raymond James Jake Bartlett - Truist Securities Todd Brooks - The Benchmark Company Brian M ...